T20 World Cup 2024: 3 Associate Nations likely to qualify for next round

With each and every passing day the anticipation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is running. The tournament is set to begin with the host United States of America taking on Canada in the first game of the tournament. 20 teams will head to the West Indies and USA to try and win the biggest prize in the international T20 tournament. 

The likes of India and Pakistan will start as early favorites along with England and Australia. One cannot forget the powerhouse teams in the form of South Africa and West Indies, with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh also looking to make their mark. 

For the first time this year, some of the biggest teams from the Associate Nations will rub shoulders with the most established teams in the world. The likes of Papua New Guinea and Uganda have qualified for the tournament on the back of their brilliant performances in the qualifiers. 

Here are the three Associate Nations who are likely to qualify for the next round of T20 World Cup 2024. 

3. Uganda  

The African nation stunned the world with its amazing brand of cricket during the qualifying phase of the tournament. Uganda also impressed every during the African Games which was held just a few months ago. Uganda are placed in the same group as Afghanistan, and New Zealand, and hosts the West Indies. The fifth team in the group is fellow qualifiers Papua New Guinea and Uganda will want to play their fearless brand of cricket and cause a few upsets during the tournament. 

2. United States of America 

Playing in the T20 World Cup for the first time, the United States of America who are also the co-hosts will have a lot of expectations riding on them. The likes of Corey Anderson and Harmeet Singh have done well in the recent series and will want to continue to dazzle for their national side. Players like Saurabh Netravalkar, Monank Patel, and Andries Gous have been in terrific form with the bat and ball.

USA which is known to be a sporting country could use their home support as a means to cause a few upset and qualify for the next round. USA are placed with India and Pakistan along with Ireland and Canada in group A of the T20 World Cup. India and Pakistan both may be favourites to make it to the next stage, but USA are well capable of springing a surprise of their own. 

1. Nepal 

One of the fastest-growing cricket nations, Nepal has been producing amazing talent with the bat and ball. Dipendra Singh Airee has already become a well-known player as he smacked the fastest-ever T20I fifty. Nepal are in the same group as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and the Netherlands. One cannot discount Nepal from playing the next round despite being an associate nation. While the South Africans can be a tricky challenge for Nepal, the Rohit Paudel-led side will fancy their chances against the other three teams in the group.